Milking machine



' N. D. RUTHERFORD.

MILKINGMACHINElv APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1920.

1,41 6,880. Patented May 2?., 1922.

with@ @rlllwllthl NEALON D. RUTHERFORD, 0F LANSING, MXCHIGAN, ASSIGNQR'T0 UNITED ENGINE COMPANY, A CORPOBTION OF MICHIGAN.

lVILKNG MACHINE.

i ,erased Application filed April 28, 1920.

1o all ywhom 25' may concern.:

Be it known that. l, NnALoN D. Burrian- FORD, a citizen ot the UnitedStates, residing at Lansing, in the county of Ingham and State otMichigan, have invented certain new and uset'ul Improvements in Milkinghlachines, ot' which the following is a specication.

rli`his invent-ion relates to milking machines and particularly to thatclass oiE milking machines where-in a vacuum chamber is used disposedbetween the teat cups and the vacuum pump, this chamber being disposedover a milk receivingreceptacle.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a valve for'disestablishing or establishing communication between the vacuum chamberand the receptacle, and a valve for establishing or disestablishingcommunication between the teat cups and the vacuum chamber, these valvesbeing so arranged that when one is opened, the other is closed, the rstnamed valve swinging` to an open posit-ion under the action ot gravityupon the inward stroke ot' the vacuum pum pV and when the vacuum withinthe` vacuum chamber is relieved.

A further object is to provide a vacuum chamber of a very simpleconstruction provided with means whereby it may be readily attached to amilk receptacle, and provide very simple means for supporting the douhlevalve above referred to within the vacuum chamber, this means being' soconstructed as to permit the ready detachment ot' the valve and valvesupport 'from the vacuum chamber and permit the ready replacement o tthe valve support and the 'valves and the correct positioning of theparts within the vacuum chamber.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve closing andopening the milk outlet from the chan'lber, so mounted that it will seatcloselj.7 against the wall of the outlet.

A further object ol the invention is to provide means tor preventing theback pressure ot' the vacuum pump being carried to Vthe teat cups andforcing the cups from the treats.

Another object ot the invention is to so construct and arrange the milkinlet and the valve mechanism controlling` .same that the Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 11922.

serial no. 376,529.

milk upon entering the vacuum chamber will he deiiected to the bottom otthe chainbcr without undue agitation thereolf.

Uther objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. lis an elevation ot a receptacle pro* vided with my improved valve,showing its connections to the pump and teat cups, and these last namedparts also in dotted line-s.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of such areceptacle and through the vacuum chamber.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. and Fig. l is a section onthe line eli-l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view ot the valve supporting yoke with the valvestem supported therein.

Referring to these drawings. 10, designates the cap of a receptacle uponwhich the vacuum chamber 1l is mounted. The cap 10 is formed with adownwardly extending flange 10a, which tits within the milk receptacleand with an outwardly extending flange 13, which bears upon the top oi'the receptacle. lilith my improved vacuum chamber it is not necessarythat the receptacle shall be air tight, or that the cap shall have anair-tight lit within the receptacle. The vacuum chamber designatedgenerally by the reference character 11 consists ot an annular wall l2.this wall extending down into the. cap 10 and the lower edge ot thiswall being inclined down *ard and laterally together with end closurestherefor. The upper end of the vacuum chamber has a permanent closurebut the wall thereof is provided with a nipple 14. whereby thc vacuumchamber may be connected to the usual vacuum pump A. This nipple ispreferably, though not necessarily. disposed at an angle which willprevent any bend in the pipe or tube B joining the pump with the vacuumchamber. The nipple 14 is disposed, not at the axial center ot thechamber 11, but toward one side wall thereof, and extending from theopposite portion or' the annular side wall 12 is a nipple 15 from whicha flexible tube or pipe C passes to the teat cups D, as is usual. ltwill be noted that the milk inlet nipple 15 is disposed on that side ofthe chamber which extends down deepest into the cap 10, and also entersthrough the chamber wall 12 near the top thereof and at an angle ofapproximately 415 degrees to the vertical axis of the chamber, as wellas at an angle of approximately l5 degrees to the vertical side wall ofthe chamber, in order that the incoming` stream of milk from theA teatcups may enter the chamber at a downward inclination. This positioningof the milk inlet 15 so that the direction of discharge of the stream ofinflowino; milk into the chamber, downwardly in the direction of thedischarge valve at the lower end of the chamber, is an iniportantfeature of my invention, as will be presently described.

1 provide a valve or closure plate at the lower end'of the chamber. thesame beine` designated by the reference character 16 and which has adiameter greater than the diameterl of the lower end of the chamber.This Valve is mounted to open downwardly and upon upward movementcontacts against an angular seat formed peripherally around the loweredge of the wall of the vacuum chamber resulting in an air tight closurewhen the valve 16 is seated.

The mounting of this valve 16 and the 'synchronously operating valvewhich closes the milk inlet 15 is one of the important fea* tures of myinvention, which will now be described.

Disposed within the vacuum chamber is a curved supporting yoke 17,preferably somewhat resilient and expanding outward. This yoke, undernormal conditions, has a diameter slightly greater than the diameter ol"the chamberll, and in order to place Ithe yoke within the chamber, theyoke is contracted and forced into the chamber to its proper position,the resiliency of the yoke urging;` its ends outward and causing theyoke to fit tightly within the vacuum chamber. rthe yoke is formed witha screw threaded perforation 18, and the wall 12 ol the Vacuum chamberis provided with the peribration 19. A headed screw 26 passes throughthe perforation 19 and into engagement with the perforation 18 and thusthe yoke is held in its proper position. The extremities of the yoke areformed with apertures 21 for the reception of the ends of the transversepivot pin .22. This pirot pin 22 rotates Vwithin the bearings formed bythe perforations 21'and when the yoke is removed from the vacuumchamber. the arms of the yoke spring` away from each other. thus detachinizi the pivot pin 22 from engagement with the yoke. When the yoke isdisposed within the vacuum chamber. however` the contraction of theAyoke causes the arms to properly ein gagethe'pivot pin and the ends ofthe piy'ot pin. bearing as' they do against the A.wa'll' 12.\preyent anylateral shifting` of the pivot pin.

Mounted upon the pivot pin is a downwardly extending curved or inclinedarm 2P), which is preferably made of a strip of metal, soldered orotherwise attached to the pivot pin. 22 at its middle. This arm exitends downward from pirot pin 22 to the end of the vacuum chamber 11 tosupport valve 16 and at its lower extremity extends approximatelyhorizontal and has formed therein acentral aperture 2l, this aperturebeingI preferably circular, though not necessarily so. The Valve 16 isformed with an cowardly extending stud 25 at its center. which isadapted to extend through the aperture 24 and be held in place in theaperture by a transversely extending` cotter pin 1t will thus be seenthat if the aperture 2-'1- be circular and the stud 25 `be circular, thevalve 16 `can rotate around its axial center. This valve 16 ispreferably dishshaped, that is` it has an upwardly extending margin 27with an outwardly extending Vflange 28, this lange bearing' against theloweredg'e of the wall 12 to forni a closure when the valve is therewithseated. The perforation 241 's suliciently large to permit of a slightplayY between the stud and the perforation. so

that the valve 16 may rock or oscillate to aY slight degree to permititto readily adjust or seat itself upon the lower end of the wall 12 ofthe chamber.

Preferably the. arm 23 is continued above the pivot pin 22. as at 29.and is then extended directly upward as at 30. to form a ralrecontrolling' the milk inlet opening de fined by the nipple 15. lVlienthe Valve 16 is open. the valve 36 will. close the milk ir let openingland when the ralre 16 is closed or drawn upward tight against the loweredge of the wall 12. the ralve 30 will be spaced from the milk inlet andmilk can enter the vacuum chamber. lt will be noted that the pivot pin22 is disposed diametrically between the vertical walls of the racnumchamber and attached near the middle ofv arm 23 and hence the valve 16is ali most evenly balanced. but not quite evenly balanced. so.l thatthe weight of the valve 16 will normally act to shift the arm 23 towardthe right (Figs. 2, 3 and and the valve against the opening` of thenipple 15. Upon an exhaust stroke of the pump connected to the nipple14. the air will be more or less exhausted 'from the chamber 11 and thiswill cause the valve 16 to swing` to its closed into the chamber ll,and. the

into the rece .itacle below, the same time` the valve 35') cloris themilk inlet oponii'ugjT thus preventing' aufy ook iliressure returning;to the ter" cups and rorfifinp; the cups troni the ter-tsj and furtherpreventing the iv; air from he mill; 'returning` to the Again. mj.'construction provi-:les as, si 'I e unitary device fhich may .beconnectei'l to a bucket tog and which may be used with any ordinaryreceptacle.

lt will be noted that the device may he readily cleansed by removing"the screw Qt), whereupon the valve i6 ay be drawn outward drawing withit the yoke or support member 17. and as soon as the yoke or supporting'member l? has passed below the lower enne of the wall l2.theresilience'o' thc yoke will ca use it to expand, thus releasing' thepin Q2. rilhe valve may be readily removed it'rom the arm 23 byremoving' the Cotter pin. 2li and thus all parts oiithe valve may bethoroughly sterilized and put in condition toi' use.

lt will be noted that when the valv` YI6 opens. the lower edge ot thevalve is disposed further from the adjacent edge of the wall l2 than isthe upper margin of the valve and, furthermorej that as the valve isinclinedn milk will readily discharge Vfrom the lower end ot the chamberll.

By providing a milk inlet which does not tangentially enter through theside walls of the chamberbut discl'iarn'es directly toward the verticalaxial center thereof and by the peculiar arrangement oit the milk inletnipple by which the discharge therefrom is downwardly toward the pivotpin Q2 ot the valve arm? l prevent any swirling or rotary motion to theincoming; stream of milk "from the teat cup: and turtl'iermoren becauseoi the construction described` oi3 the valve arm 23 as continued at 29.above its pivotal mounting'` together with the valve Si() thereon, lprovide a movable pivotcd wall which when the valve SO is open presentsa substantial baille wall almost `parallel with the incomingr stream ot'fresh milk passing through nipple Vl5 into the chamber and at the sametime preventing' any tendency4 of the said stream ot incoming` milk torise toward the top ot the chamber and tend to clog' or be drawn outthrough the nipple lf-l: leading' to the air pump upon the suctionstroke of the pump. The milk entering` the chamber in downwardlyinclined direction on the angle oit 45 degrees to the .f'ertical walls'thereof will be immediately deflected by baille 29 in a gentle mannerto the lower part or' the chamber to be discharged into the receptaclebelow upon the opening or the valve 'lll at the cessation ot the suctionstroke ot the pump.

t will be seen that upon the completion of the suction strokeV of thepump and upon milk disc/lunare@ t thebeginning' of a pressure'stroke thevalve i6 will be 'tree to open by rez son ot' any pressure in therhainber and more particularljy, because ot the weight oit a ,nuilatedmilk therein with the result tha A shitting' of the arm 23 will swin i''c ve la close the opening` leading' to :he at cups through nipple l5and hence cui oli" a' back pressure through the tube C, leading' to teatcups D which would result in dctrf'h- 7 ment of said teat cups .tronitheir normal working' position, unless held on the teats 'ii' the cow bya surcinpgle or other extraneous means.

ln order that the invention might be un- 8 derstood, the details ot thepreferred eni bodinient thereof have been illustrated and particularlydescribedq but it is not desired to be limited to the details for itwill be apparent that persons skilled in the art may 8 resort to variousmodilications without departing `trom the purpose and spirit ot' myinvention.

l claim: Y

l. A vacuum chamber` for milking4 appa- 9 ratus having a. valvecontrolled milk inlet, a valve controlled outlet. there beingv also a.passageway leading; through one wall ot said vacuum chamber to an airexhausting device, and means tor automatically closing` 9 one of saidvalves when the other valve is opened, comprising' an arm extending' beAtween the said valves and being; pivotallvv mounted intermediatethercoli and arranged in conjunction with one ol' said valves to form abattle wall between t-he valve coutrolled. milk inlet and the passagevay adapted to lead trom the chamber leading' to the air exhaustingdevice.

2. ift vacuum chamber 'for milking apparatus having' a milk outlet and amilk inlet. valves controlling` the outlet and inlet. and meansconnecting' said valves together for simultaneous movement in reversedirections with respect to each ol? the said valve seats l controlling'the said milk outlet and the said milkinlet. said means comprising' amember pivotally mounted intermediate its extremis ties and between thesaid valves and provid ing' in conjimctiou with thc said inlet valve abaille surface or wall for preventingl contact of the incoming` streamot milk witlV the walls of the chamber and conducting` same to theoutlet valve.

3. il. vacuum chamber 'for milking;` ma chics having' a milk inlet and amilk outlet, and valves controlling' the outlet and inlet connected toeach other for alternately opening and closing said valve.

4t. A vacuum chamber tor milking apparatus having a milk outlet and amilk inlet, a `gravity opened valve controlling the outlet. and a valvecontrollingv the inlet operaH tively connected to the first named valveto operate lreversely thereto.

A. vacuum chamber for milking apparatus having a milk outlet and milkinlet, valves controlling the outlet and inlet, the outlet valve beingpivotally supported and swinging to an open position by gravity.

6. A vacuum chamber for milking apparatus having a milk outlet and amilk inlet, valves controlling the outlet and inlet, the outlet valvebeing pivotally supported and swinging to an open position by gravity,the inlet valve being connected to the outlet valve to operate reverselythereto.

7. A vacuum chamber for milking apparatus having a milk discharge valveyieldably held in open position by gravity, but shiftable to a closedposition upon the exhaustion of air from said chamber, and a valvecontrolling the inlet of milk into said chamber and connected to thedischarge valve to open when the discharge valve closes and to closewhen the discharge valve opens.

8. A vacuum chamber for milking apparatus having a milk inlet and a milkoutlet` and a rocking arm for closing the milk inlet when the milkoutlet is opened and opening the milk inlet when the milk outlet isclosed.

9. A vacuum chamber for milking machines having an open discharge endand having a milk inlet `in one wall, a valve controlling the dischargeend of the chamber, avalve controllingl the milk inlet, and a memberconnecting said valves and pivoted within the chamber, the dischargevalve by gravity causing` said member to swing to a position to open thedischarge valve and close the milk inlet, said discharge valve swingingto a closed position and opening the milk inlet valve upon an exhaustionof air from the chamber.

l0. A vacuum chamber for milking niachines having a discharge opening. avalve controlling the discharge opening, and a support from which thevalve is swung, said support being disposed within the chamber andhaving resilient engagement with the wall thereof.

11. A vacuum chamber for milking machines, open at its lower end, avalve control.- ling discharge through the lower end of the vacuumchamber, a yoke supporting the valve having arms resiliently urgedoutward from each other, said yoke being disposed within the vacuumchamber and the arms resiliently engaging the wall thereof, and meansfor detachably engaging thc yoke with the chamber wall.

12. A vacuum chamber for milking machines annular in cross section, thelower end of the chamber being open, a valve for controlling said openend, an arcuate supporting member disposed within the chamber andbearing against the wall thereof, the arms of the supporting memberbeing resiliently urged outward against said wall, a screw passingthrough the wall ot the chamber and detachably engaging said support,and an arm pivoted to the supportand operatively connected to the valve.

l13. A vacuum chamber for milking machines, cylindrical in cross sectionand open at its lower end, a. valve coacting with the lower end of thechamber, a support for said valve comprising an arcuate resilient yokeheld under compression by the wall of the chamber, means engaging theyoke with the chamber, the ends oi' the yoke being per-Eorated, a pivotpin passing through the perforated ends of the yoke and held in place bythe wall of the chamber, and an arm operatively connecting the pivot pinlto the valve.

14. A vacuum chamber for milking machines open at one end, a valvetherefor, an arm supporting the valve and a pivotal support for the armincluding a yoke sprung into place within the chamber and havingperforations at its ends, and a pivot pin having a length equal to thediameter of the chamber and having its ends inserted in the perforationsof said yoke.

l5. A cover for the milk receptacles of milking machines, having avacuum chamber disposed vertically through it, the lower end of thevacuum chamber being open, the upper end of the vacuum chamber having anexhaust nipple, and a milk inlet, a normally open valve controllingdischarge through the lower end of the vacuum chamber, a valvecontrolling the milk inlet, and single means for swingingly supportingsaid valves and causing them to operate reversely to each other wherebywhen the discharge valve is closed the milk inlet valve shall be openedand vice versa.

16. A vacuum chamber'tor milking machines having an open lower end, avalve controlling the lower end, and an arm extending upward into thevacuum chamber and pivotally supported therein, the valve havingrotatable engagement with said arm for movement in a plane of the valve.

17. A vacuum chamber for milking machines, the lower end of the chamberbeing open to provide for the discharge of milk and a laterallyswingingly mounted valve controlling discharge through the open lowerend, said valve being in the form of a dishshaped disk providing amarginal iiange engaging with the lower edge of the chamber.

18. A vacuum chamber for milking machines, said chamber being verticallydisposed and having an exhaust outlet at its upper end, a milk inletadjacent its upper end and in its side wall, the lower Vend of thechamber being open and having its lower edge inclined downward andtoward the wall having the milk inlet, a valve formed to close the lowerend ci the chamber, a support for said valve mounted within the chamber,and an arm operatively connected to the valve extending upward into theChamber and pivotally connected to the support and then extending upwardand toward the inlet opening and formed to provide e milk inletcontrolling valve gravity acting to hold the discharge valve open andthe I nilk inlet valve closede said discharge valve closing upon theexhaustion of air from the chamber und thereby opening the milk inletvalve.

ln testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on thislst day of lipril A. D. 1920.

N. D. RUTHERFORD.

